Young attacks Hill on unemployment rate

Jul 22, 2010 — The Evening News and The Tribune

Daniel Suddeath

Jul. 22, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- > SOUTHERN INDIANA -- Indiana's unemployment rate -- which increased from 10 to 10.1 percent last month -- is being used by Republican Todd Young to challenge incumbent Democrat Baron Hill's vote in favor of stimulus spending.

In a statement, Young labeled the federal stimulus package as a dangerous waste of money.

"The stimulus didn't fuel the recovery. It didn't create jobs. And it didn't curb unemployment," said Young, who is running against Hill and Libertarian candidate Greg Knott for Indiana's 9th District U.S. House seat.

Indiana lost about 3,000 government jobs from May to June. Uric Dufrene, Sanders chair of the Indiana University Southeast school of business, attributed some of that reduction to the expiration of U.S. Census positions.

State numbers show Indiana's private sector has added 46,600 jobs this year, or about a 2 percent growth. That's above the national average of 0.6 percent.

While Indiana's unemployment rate is less than what it was in June of 2009, Young said the jobless mark has still doubled since Hill returned to Congress in 2007.

Hill "thinks his votes to grow government, raise taxes and discourage hiring have served Southern Indiana well," Young said. "The numbers tell another tale."

Young credited state government -- which is headed by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels -- for implementing a low tax, small government agenda.

Hill was also on the offensive this week, challenging Knott and Young to support Wall Street reform. Hill voted for the stimulus package, but against what is commonly known as the banking bailout legislation.

Hill supported a bill that recently passed the House and Senate designed to put more restraints on Wall Street.

"I voted against the banking bailout -- twice," Hill said. "I was proud to support this legislation because it will prevent future bailouts while also reigning in Wall Street."

Hill said Republicans in Washington are fighting to repeal the Wall Street legislation.

Young "has been taking money and talking points from the D.C. establishment so we need to ask if he is also going to stand against this important bill," Hill said.

Knott responded that the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Obama Wednesday "is not as strong as Glass-Steagall which Baron Hill voted to repeal in 1999."

"This reform bill is fundamentally flawed because it doesn't require accountability from the Federal Reserve which created the current mess by pushing interest rates too low for too long," Knott said.

He also questioned why Hill and other representatives didn't include a Federal Reserve audit mandate in the bill.

Hill having telephone town hall

Constituents of Hill have been invited to participate in a telephone town hall from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Those interested in joining the discussion must fill-out an online form due to Indiana laws regarding unsolicited phone calls.

The online form can be found at indiana09townhall.com, or at baronhill.house.gov. Those without a computer or who need assistance can call Hill's Washington office at 202-225-5315.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0418-47186681